How can I improve my writing skills?

2019-05-17T19:35:29-04:00

As an NCO I'm almost embarrassed to admit that my writing skills are compared to those of a middle school student. It's difficult for me to communicate in writing, for example writing counselings, awards, memos, NCOER bullets. I feel as if I have to use a lot of brain power to articulate a coherent idea. My grammar is terrible, I've struggle with this so much. Any advise??

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2019 7:42 PM

2019-05-17T19:42:10-04:00

Take a military writing skills or improvement course at your training and education building, or try some basic college writing courses you’ll see the difference in a few weeks just put forth the effort that’s what it really comes down to.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2019 7:45 PM

2019-05-17T19:45:15-04:00

The Army has books and regulations on military writing. Also, ask seasoned NCOs how they write their counseling and NCOERs. There is a website that somewhat gives you ideas to start your writing: armywriter.com. I hope this helps you.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made May 17 at 2019 7:47 PM

2019-05-17T19:47:18-04:00

English 101 at your local college will bring up to high speed.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 17 at 2019 8:02 PM

2019-05-17T20:02:57-04:00

You've already had a few propose formal writing courses. A good composition course at a community college would go far to improve your abilities as long as you are serious. I would also advise you to read. You would be surprised how much reading actually affects one's ability to write. By reading more you will pick up on style, grammar, and vocabulary that you can use to improve your own writing.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made May 17 at 2019 8:27 PM

2019-05-17T20:27:51-04:00

You communicated pretty well here. Now, if you want to get better, read. Read everything. Read the cereal box as you eat breakfast. Read billboards as you drive. Read books. Read. Read. Read. Then write. Write. Write. Write. It's like any other skill. Practice makes better (never perfect)

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:28 PM

2019-05-17T20:28:10-04:00

You know, honestly, that's a really interesting and perceptive question...when I was jn, there was a writing workshop for new Lts and some Capts to go to, I don't know if USAF gives it any longer, however, when I'd been at USAF OTS, I went through twice, my first flight commander was a grizzled very senior Caot, who quite literally pounded my head I to the pavement to teach me how to do a letter even halfway properly...when I got to.my unit, I spent God only knows how many hours on word processors, before PCS were commonllace, I needed, I swear, three separate signoffs to send a letter out...here's honestly how I do it, ok? don't try to compose something at first, few can do that, I typically can now, however, only after many, many yrs of oractice...you need to learn how to free associate...just get paper at first, and not down ideas, that's all, at least to start...once you have a sufficient number of jotted ideas on foolscap, then try to start organizing them in your mind, without actually writing...I always start a letter the same way... "I am writing to request..." Or explain, or something similar. ..also, there's a book, little used or known now, by an author last name of Strunk, unusual name, on writing style, kind of the Robert's Rules of Order for writing, it's short, a little pamphlet, it's been out for decades, it's a classic, trust me...also,.for God's sake, spell.check, to not do so is crazy, honest...and not to nitpick, only because you're expressly asking for such help, it's "advice", advise is a different term, meaning to basically suggest counsel for someone, advice consists of suggestions, not suggesting counsel...get a PRINTED copy of Merriam Webster's dictionary, also their thesaurus, and learn to use it, ok? Trust that I do in fact know whereof I speak on this, honest...when I was asked by my first FC to do a business was letter, it has so much red ink on it when he gave it back to me, he explicitly said on it that he's basically given up trying to correct it...I like Arial font, generally size 10.5 to 12...paragraphs are always indented at the beginning, for the most part, except in the first paragraph in a book on the first page of a chalter...also, no paragraph should ever have a single word at the end, that's termed a "widow", they're very bad form...also,.always right and left justify all paragraogs, using hyphenation, and be certain to know when and when to not capitalize, most generally capitalize needlessly,.which can make a letter look both clumsy and gauche...learn the parts of soeech, adjectives, adverbs, gerunds, participles, so called " dangling" participles...all whole numbers from zero through no e are always spelled out, sentences never begin with Arabic numbers, like "10" , ever...numbers beyond that are typically always Arabic digits, use commas between groups of three digts, decimal point, learn the proper way to punctuate, esp semicolons and colons....phones and tablets have caused a.severe atrophy of skill in writing, if you don't write script, start,and for God's sake,.learn how, I'm well aware cursive writing has been largely and mistakenly abandoned in schools...lemme know your thoughts on all that, if I can help.with more, I'll try to suggest more, honest, ok? Ann's I really must compliment you on the perceptiveness of your question, most unusual, major kudos on that one, for real, bravo....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:30 PM

2019-05-17T20:30:01-04:00

I'm here if you wanna ask more, don't hesitate...and yeah, I use such slang only when doing something like this, honest...I can seriously help you, for real, if you want, just ask...really, really, seriously good question, once again...if I find mil coursework that can help you, I'll try to also send it, ok?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:31 PM

2019-05-17T20:31:38-04:00

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33514.The_Elements_of_Style

Here's the book...trust me, get it, devour it, let.it guide you, ok?

The Elements of Style

This style manual offers practical advice on improving writing skills. Throughout, the emphasis is on promoting a plain English style. Th...

Response by Maj John Bell made May 17 at 2019 8:32 PM

2019-05-17T20:32:59-04:00

While attending the Marine Corps' Amphibious Warfare School, (Captain level, professional military education 9 month course) all students were required to complete a series of self-paced, non-military professional correspondence courses. A battery of tests were taken to determine where in the series a Captain would start.

In the 70's, 80's, and 90's the Marine Corps had The Marine Corps Institute. It offered MOS specific self-paced correspondence courses and a series of professional development courses including several courses on spelling, grammar, professional correspondence, etc. etc. All Marines, of every rank were expected to make use of the MCI courses for their own professional development. My understanding is the the Marine corps version is now called CDET. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts the Army has something similar, or that you may register for and take CDET courses. Your battalion or brigade training NCO should know. I would start there before you start laying out money for college courses.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:33 PM

2019-05-17T20:33:20-04:00

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED186932

Apparently, the USAF course I'd taken as a Lt was placed.into pamphlet format...trust me on this one also, get it, devour it, ok?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:35 PM

2019-05-17T20:35:27-04:00

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Merriam-Webster-11th-Ed-Collegiate-Dictionary-Dictionary-Printed-Electronic/45901912?sourceid=csebr03c5df0b3d2e504e4ea674ddd31781a71d&wmlspartner=bizratecom&affcmpid= [login to see] &tmode=0000&veh=cse&szredirectid= [login to see] [login to see] [login to see] 005

This should be adequate for you, trust me, buy it, DON'T use it online, OK?

45901912

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:36 PM

2019-05-17T20:36:53-04:00

https://www.amazon.com/Merriam-Webster-Thesaurus/dp/ [login to see] /ref=asc_df_ [login to see] /?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid={creative}&hvpos={adposition}&hvnetw=o&hvrand={random}&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl={devicemodel}&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla [login to see] 079977&psc=1

And this, most definitely....

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Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:37 PM

2019-05-17T20:37:37-04:00

That last one was the printed Merriam Webster thesaurus, just look it up, youll.see.it listed, again BUY IT, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:42 PM

2019-05-17T20:42:45-04:00

https://www.bing.com/search?q=usaf+reading+list&FORM=AWRE

Very few.know the USAF publishes this,.trust me, get it, use it...relate your reading tastes, also, I'll suggest stuff for yoh, that'll most definitely help you linguistically cultivate yourself, if you like, ok?

usaf reading list - Bing

Background. General Ronald Fogleman created the CSAF Professional Reading Program in 1996 to develop a common frame of reference among Air Force members -- officers, enlisted, and civilians -- to help each of us become better, more effective advocates of air and space power.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 17 at 2019 8:45 PM

2019-05-17T20:45:01-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Books_of_the_Western_World

Where I was assigned the installation library had the whole set of these...get the first one, called The Great Conversation, if you can buy this online, I expect that's possible now, trust me, spend the money and get it, easily the single greatest collection of English language literature of all.time, I assure you, ok?

Great Books of the Western World - Wikipedia

Great Books of the Western World is a series of books originally published in the United States in 1952, by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., to present the Great Books in a 54-volume set.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 17 at 2019 9:01 PM

2019-05-17T21:01:32-04:00

Look up active voice and CAS3 memo writing. Before it got cut from the budget, the Army used to have a 6 week staff officer ranger school for the phony tough and crazy brave at scenic Ft Leavenworth KS: the Combined Arms Service Staff School CAS3. It was teeth grinding critique of memo and paper writing. Briefings of all stripe and difficulty. Try looking for those Course materials.

It's painful, but have others read your work. I used to read things I wrote out loud. If it sounded right, I'd be close. Don't get hung up on making it "sound official". Use the words you know correctly. Use the doctrinal / regulatory words. Each memo should start with bottom line up front BLUF. What is it you want? what do I need to know?

My first unit had iron Majors that murdered everything. I spent weeks getting one page memos in for the SCO to sign. The correctly written and formatted one page memo is the gold standard.

Make sure you are familiar with AR25-50. DA PAM600-67.

Here is a remnant of CAS3 https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/501MI/content/CAS3StaffOfficerGuide.pdf

PS. It takes courage to admit a shortcoming and to do something about it. Hooah.

CAS3StaffOfficerGuide.pdf

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2019 11:01 PM

2019-05-17T23:01:23-04:00

The only way to get better at writing is to write. Time will only get you better. Just like any new NCO....you have challenges to overcome. And yours just happens to be writing. Reference US AR 25-50 and ArmyWriter.Com. I have faith in you, young SGT....now have faith in yourself.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2019 2:18 PM

2019-05-18T14:18:37-04:00

Spend time writing. The more you write, the easier it becomes. Write recommendations that you would like to have yourself, write awards, write counseling reports. I'm not saying turn these over to anyone, write them then shit-can them. Write some more and shit-can those. Keep writing until you are comfortable with yourself. Then write some more.
Reading other's writings will help to garner ideas. Read a lot. Write more.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made May 21 at 2019 11:23 PM

2019-05-21T23:23:04-04:00

I have always been a fan of "write like you speak." For 75% of what you do as a SGT, this will work fine. Write it up, then read it out loud. If it sounds right, it probably is.

For official memos, awards, and NCOERs, do the same thing, then bring it to your first line as ask him/her to help you church it up. YOU do the edits, have them advise. Ask why you are making the changes so you get a better understanding of how to do it right next time.

Response by PFC Nicholas Efstathiou made Apr 30 at 2020 9:49 PM

2020-04-30T21:49:30-04:00

Sgt., I don't know if anyone has suggested this, but there are sites that can give you writing problems to work through. I think Khan Academy may even have some lessons you can study. I had to go all the way back to elementary school math to pass Algebra.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 8 at 2020 9:39 AM

2020-12-08T09:39:50-05:00

The Air Force let me wright for a living for 4 years. Here’s some ideas.
-read good writing to help you write good reading
-find a copy of Tongue and Quill. It’s an Air Force publication on effective writing
-look for Army on-line training on effective writing. I think I took one as a DAC.
-Proof reading tip: read your work backwards. Makes it easy to catch misspelled words
-read your work out loud. Helps find grammar errors
-common errors: too many acronyms; over use of capital letters; under use of the hyphen
-“which hunt”. Which should be used to mean “by the way”. Consider replacing with “that” or rewrite the sentence

Good luck

Response by Sgt Karen Schleif made May 6 at 2021 2:45 PM

2021-05-06T14:45:23-04:00

If that's the only thing you are writing, it can be daunting and such a drudgery.

Practice journaling every day. Get a cool looking notebook and start writing things down. Only you will read it, so write down your thoughts, things that happened that day, memories of something or someone, your plans and dreams... and make it fun! It will change everything!

I never used to write, because I'm such a perfectionist that I would criticize my own writing. Now I don't care. Just the fact that I'm writing this, something everyone can see, is a total break through. I just had to go easy on myself.

Response by MSgt Gary Hinkelman made May 6 at 2021 2:48 PM

2021-05-06T14:48:29-04:00

Do you have awards pitting your soldiers against others throughout the base? In the USAF, we go against other career fields, for top awards. We found the one area that kept winning the awards, so we asked them for help. They began teaching many of us how to write these award packages, like bullets etc. Then in our squadron, we got together all types of people, who wanted to improve. After some hard work, teamwork, our 'airmen' soldiers began winning awards.

Our members were just as good as the other squadrons. It all came down to who was the better writer, highlighting in the proper fashion needed to win.

If you would like more help, give me a pm, I'd be happy to talk with you further about how you can lead this type of effort.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made May 6 at 2021 5:31 PM

2021-05-06T17:31:54-04:00

A lot of what you might be writing can be put into the following format:
Situation
Action
Result
If you have direct reports (junior enlisted members [EM's] for whom you are a supervisor) try this:
Find something these EM's did that worked, then describe the situation. It can be anything, don't worry about how mundane it might sound. Then describe what they did about it. Finally, describe the results.
Here's an example: "At the end of the workday, tools lay where they had been used. Private X collected the tools and returned each one to their proper place. This resulted in tools being properly stowed."
Try that for as many examples as you can find. Don't worry if they won't be used. Just writing them will give you experience.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 6 at 2021 5:52 PM

2021-05-06T17:52:40-04:00

I had trouble writing essays after serving many years in the army. Military writing encourages bottom line up front and simplicity. You can probably find essay grading websites that check for grammar, punctuation, and passive writing.

And there is this: https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN32225-AR_25-50-003-WEB-6.pdf

ARN32225-AR_25-50-003-WEB-6.pdf